Potential Problems with Ninja Blenders [Must Read Before Buying]

Ninja® blenders and food processors are innovative appliances that can satisfy the needs of kitchen worldwide.

They are versatile and stylish, a unique combination that gives them a wide customer base.

Ninja blenders have three major product types- the Ninja UltimaTM series works on a dual blade technology which is unique to Ninja products, the Total CrushingTM series is powerful and can crush ice and other foods instantly and the Ninja® Master Prep® series which allows you to make professional recipes at home.

Ninja® products are world class because they have a lot of positive attributes.

Their containers are made of BPA-free plastic which keeps you and your family safe from the toxic effects of BPA poisoning. All its parts and accessories are dishwasher safe.

They have a one year warranty on their products which is subject to a number of terms and conditions. They also have a 60-day return policy on these models, a very generous time frame.

Potential Problems with Ninja Blenders

Like every appliance, Ninja blenders are also subject to a few shortcomings. This does not actually mean that the product is not good. It just means that a few buyers may face these issues while using Ninja Blenders.

We analysed customer reviews of several Ninja models and have compiled a comprehensive analysis of the same to give an idea of the potential limitation / issues of Ninja products.

Noise

Ninja blenders are high powered appliances, with power ratings ranging from a mere 400 W to as high as 1500 W.

Customers generally complain about noise that emanates from the machine during operation, especially from those working on high power.

Our take – This is expected since the unit is actively and swiftly slicing through food and making them into blended products in a matter of seconds.

Consistency

Users have reported, especially while making green smoothies, that the final blended product is not consistent and may contain some chunks of unprocessed food.

Green smoothies usually require a number of frozen fruits and vegetables. This kind of performance indicates that some types of food may not be compatible with the machine.

Customers can refer to the recipe book provided with the unit for drinks that are sure to work in their Ninja blender.

Another way to eliminate this issue is by avoiding the use of foods like almonds, oats, frozen foods and the like. On the other hand, customers have noticed that when ice cubes (alone) are crushed, they turn into consistent snowflakes in seconds. However, ice and liquid do not blend well when blended at the same time.

Our take: in most cases we found that the consistency issue was because the ingredients were not proper and not that the machine malfunctioned.

Plastic containers

Some customers prefer blenders that have glass containers since glass containers are not likely to scratch soon.

Ninja blenders are made of plastic and some users have noted that they can easily scratch if the blades somehow come in contact with the pitcher or cup.

On the other hand, the container is quite resistant to minor scratches, unlike other plastic containers, which increases its lifespan.

Additionally, Ninja pitchers and cups are made of BPA-free plastic which ensures that your food or drink is contaminated with BPA. BPA, as is well known, causes a number of toxic damages to the body, including leading to cancer.

Our take : Plastic containers have their pros too, especially in case of rough usage.

Issues with Lid

Some issues with the lid that customers have reported is that it has a suction ring that is very sticky. This cause some inconvenience to them when they open the pitcher.

Sharp Blades

Numerous users are concerned about the sharpness of Ninja blades.

These blades are reported to be so sharp that they cut through skin even on the slightest contact. People are concerned about these blades coming in contact with their children.

A solution to this is the locking lid, which locks firmly and is child-proof. It is best to avoid washing these blades by hand.

However, for a blender that promises to slice through all kinds of food, it is expected that the blades will be sharp and powerful.

Our take: One really has to be careful while using Ninja because of its sharp blades. But a high performance blender needs to have such a blade system.

No spout for addition

Ninja blenders do not have spouts for an addition of extra food material during the blending process.

Customers often make drinks that require the addition of food in the midst of the blending period. They are inconvenienced when they have to stop blending and then add another ingredient.

A reason for this may be to ensure the safety of the customer. Since it is a high powered machine, opening a spout in the middle of the blending process may cause the food inside to splatter.

Our take: Yes, its a limitation but it seems the decision of not having it has its benefits and logic too.

Customer Service

Some issues that customers have had with Ninja’s customer service staff are that they were non-English speaking and there was a communication gap.

Some people sent a number of mails which were not acknowledged, so they had to resort to calling instead. Although in this case, the particular part was replaced immediately.

Even though Ninja states that products sold on Amazon come under their warranty, they have not upheld their word on several occasions.

However, Amazon provides the said warranty for a year and will replace your product, if you have bought it from them.

Our take: This is indeed serious issue. But for every unsatisfied customer we found several who were fine with the service. But yes, there is room for improvement.

Rubber base

A serious concern among users is that the blades have rubber nubs that control them. These rubber parts wear off quickly which greatly decreases the lifetime of the Ninja blender.

However, they are relieved that Ninja is quick to replace blenders and its parts. Ensure that you keep the receipt for claiming a replacement under the warranty.

Poor circulation

Users have reported that the blade is designed in such a way that it does not create a vortex-like other blender. Therefore, the ingredients on top do not mix with those at the bottom and vice-versa.

Our take: We found most users to be satisfied with the performance. It is important to check out the recipe book as not all ingredients will work equally well with Ninja

Our Recommendation

No doubt that there are limitations and some issues with Ninja, but the percentage of the same are very low as compared to other brands.

So, if you are looking for a good blender, we highly recommend you to check out Ninja Blenders. You can check out all the latest models and their prices on Amazon on this page> or just check out some of Ninja’s most popular models below –

Our Ninja (the single serving model) lasted 3 months and the ball bearings fell out of it. We bought it at Kroger’s. The warranty says $20 plus we pay shipping and have to wait for the repair. I give it “*” for reliability.

Bearings in the blade assembly locked up after a year, model BL482. It appears that the bottom of the assembly is not watertight. Lucky for me I have someone who can replace the bearings and make sure that they are sealed this time.

The bpa plastic is not durable. After 3 years the base of my blender began chipping off just from setting it on the counter. Then the dough bowl in the Ninja Ultra Kitchen System separated from the base because of the weakened plastic. This is not meant to last, for what I paid for it, it was a waste of money. Going to buy a Vitamix.

I was given a Nutri ninja IQ as a gift over a year ago ,I would have barely used it 15 times and all of a sudden it stopped working . I don’t have a receipt either . Is there anywhere I can get it fixed or is it cheaper to buy another one ?

I also have rubber shaving off from around the lid assembly. I keep shaking the unit to remove all the flakes that fell into it, and all I’ve ever done is rinse the container lid assembly and occasionally wash in dishwater. I haven’t found it in food or drink yet, otherwise the unit has been a great buy. I have used it 2-4 x day for the past year and 1/2.

I had purchased the nutri ninja auto IS model BL642W 3 years ago from ninja themselves. I added the food processing package as well. I’ve made many things including ice cream and bread/ pizza dough, but mostly smoothies. After 3 years, the motor started making a grinding sound. I called customer service, and since I ordered from them, my unit was pre-registered. I was instructed to pack everything up (pack securely) and shipped it via FedEx at no charge. However, since that particular model was discontinued, they sent me the BL642Z, which is an upgraded model. I’ve had no other issues like many here. I’ve made it a point to wipe the base down with a damp cloth, only wash the cups in the dishwasher, and hand wash/ rinse blades immediately after use. Keep in mind, the extreme heat from dishwasher can (over time) damage most things. I also store the different parts where they don’t get ruined by other things.

My Ninja Pro 900 jar (top) started to deteriorate after just two months of daily use. I noticed a discoloration that would wash off along the bottom of the jar where it is level with the blades. After taking a good close look at it, the discoloration was actually caused from small scratches and chips in the inside surface of the jar. It also felt as rough as sandpaper. That can’t be good.

The damage to the jar could have easily been avoided if it was simply made of glass. It would be great if the makers would at least provide a replacement part or version of the Ninja that is made with a glass jar.

I ended up replacing the whole unit with a Oster Pro 1200, which has a glass picture twice the size of the Ninja’s plastic jar, makes smoothies just as well, cost $10 less, and won’t provide a good dose of plastic in each one of my smoothies.

We have a Ninjar blender but it will not turn on and this is the SECOND one we have had in three months with the same problem. When its working it is a fabulous machine but this one is going back and we are getting another brand.
Anyone else had this problem?

Yes, unfortunately my second one started to fail close to the warranty expire date and now Ninja is telling me that they cannot do something about it. I should have never accepted the original replacement. If you can get your refund.

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